The Bugle 25 March 2017
A fortnightly celebration of people and places on the Upper South Coast of NSW
Serving the communities of Kiama, Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama Downs, Minnamurra and Gerroa and at www.thebugleonline.com
New chapter for tourism in Kiama By a vote of 8:1, Kiama councillors have decided to establish an in-house Tourism & Events business unit and cut Council’s long standing funding to industry body Kiama Tourism from 1 July. The decision ends a hybrid model which as been operating for two years, where Council took responsibility for promoting tourism and Kiama Tourism was responsible for operations such as the visitors centre, the web-
site and member services. Mayor Honey says having a single body managing both the marketing and operational aspects of tourism, such as the Visitors Centre, had a number of advantages. “There will be greater efficiencies, increased accountability to ratepayers and the tourism sector and improved coordination between the strategic, marketing and operational staff. “Another key benefit is that tourism operators,
Works start on Fern St
With work about to begin in earnest, Ken Noble is hopeful his $1.8 million mixed use development in Fern St, covered extensively in earlier editions of The Bugle, will be completed by the end of the year. The development is being built on land adjacent to his shops and an adjoining block of public reserve leased from Council. Landscaping by Council will form a seamless connection to the remaining public reserve to the north.
industry groups and other government agencies (such as Destination NSW), will now have a single point of contact for tourism in our area.” “The overwhelming view amongst councillors was to bring tourism back into Council to get it to work as quickly as possible,” says Councillor Matt Brown, a member of the Kiama Tourism Board. “I would rather it (the responsibility) stay with Kiama Tourism, but that wasn’t to be the case. So I drafted a motion that would bring it into Council but would respect and assist Kiama Tourism during the transition. “If everyone puts tourism as their number one goal, then this will work.” Along with the new Tourism & Events business unit (with core staff of a manager and a coordinator), Council will be establishing an advisory committee made up of four industry representatives, two councillors and the General Manager ‘to guide Council in maximising tourism opportunities’. Kiama Tourism Chair Rob Sciacchitano says the decision ends two years of limbo.
of how lack of industry involvement in marketing has shown during this period. “This move has been really damaging for the area.” Council’s General Manager Michael Forsyth says a number of other councils have successfully run their tourism promotion along the lines of Kiama’s new model. He explains that the new Tourism & Events Manager will report to him, with the board playing an advisory role. Kiama Tourism will be welcome to nominate representatives to the Board. Mr Sciacchitano says that in many ways Council’s decision raises more questions than it answers, with much to be clarified. “I just hope Council does the right thing for the people working for Kiama Tourism at the moment,” he says. Mayor Honey says staff will be encouraged to apply for roles within the new unit. The effectiveness of the new arrangements will be assessed after two years. Councillor Brown says it is up to Kiama Tourism and its members to decide what they want to do from now on.
“Kiama Tourism died two years ago and Council buried it last night,” he said the day after the March Council meeting. “Two years ago they pulled our funding and we haven’t been able to do anything but open and close the visitors centre since. “I was on the board of Shellharbour Tourism for 14 years and I know how a proper industry board should work and how effective they can be. “The Board I have been on here has been one pleading for more funding. “Hopefully we will be able to get some traction and get things done by participating on the new board.” He gives Council taking Kiama out of the Unspoilt Disclosure: The author is a former campaign as an example member and director of Kiama Tourism
Inside this issue Kathy Lette Dinner a sell out p3
New role for Gareth Ward p3
Competitions honour Independence Day p4 Fond farewell to Kiama Hospital p6
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What’s on? Every Wednesday Kiama Farmers’ Market Kiama Harbour 3-6pm From 5 March, 2-5pm
On weekends Live music at The Sebel, Kiama Leagues Club, The Mecure, Jamberoo Pub and other venues.
nity Centre, 2-4pm $15 t 0409 360 206 Cam’s Day Family fun and motor show at Kiama Showgrounds, 9am Gold coin entry
Sun 26 March
Hands On Day Surfing for the Disabled Til 29 March morning at Gerroa Shellharbour Jamberoo Village Woodcarvers Exhibition Market Old Fire Station Reid Park, 9-2pm
Sat 25 March
Kiama Makers & Growers Market Black Beach 9-2pm Secondhand Saturday Black Beach 8-noon Vision Australia High Tea Joyce Wheatley Commu-
Weds 29 March Historical Society Talk: The origin of Kiama street names Family History Centre, 2.30pm
Fri 31 March Fair Food film (see right)
1-2 April
Fri 7 April
Kiama Leagues Club Kiama Blowhole Big Fish Classic (see page 4)
Pics & Flicks: La Belle Saison A young woman moves from the French countryside to Paris and begins a passionate love affair with a feminist leader in 1970s France. Gerringong Town Hall 8pm
Join the Lions in 2017
2016 was a great year for Gerringong Seniors Rugby League Football Club (the Gerringong Sat 1 April Lions), with three grades Lions Club of Kiama making the Grand Finals Race Day and First Grade becoming Kembla Grange. Group 7 Premiers for the Sun 9 April VIP tickets $85 from second time in as many Red Hot Summer Clive 0409 047 981 years. Concert or Ian 0417 692 289. Loyal supporters, and Free tickets available for Kiama Showgrounds any footy fans interested in The season begins in Kiama residents from joining their ranks, are inBerry on 1 April, with the 28-30 April vited to a pre-season get first home game the followCouncil and various shops KISS Arts Festival together. ing week. around town. 6-7 May “Our three teams will be Kiama Arts Trail Details: Join most of Wings over the Illawarra training, members of the Various open studios Gerringong there on Committee will assist anyaround the area. See Tuesday 28 March, 5-8pm one who wishes to become at Michael Cronin Oval. www.kiamaartstrail.com a 2017 member, and our Friends of Kiama Library expert Steak Hut caterers Talk: Suzanne Leal will be on hand to provide Slow Food Saddleback is (see page 4) On the Wednesday followeveryone with a delicious screening the Australian ing the start of Daylight sausage sandwich,” says Saving on 2 April, Kiama documentary Fair Food Membership Manager, Jan Farmers’ Market will be Brett. to promote discussion changing to its winter hours Membership of $50 single and understanding of of 2-5pm. ($80 couple); $30 senior the issues facing Austra“We found in our first ($55 couple) brings free lian food producers. year that it is just too dark entry to home games, disFri 31 March, 7.30pm, to be operating til 6pm in counts from local busiGerringong Town Hall, $15 the depth of winter,” says nesses, free members’ including supper. the Market’s manager Tricia draws and more. Call Celia on 0438 447 326 Ashelford. to book.
Kiama Farmers’ Market: times roll back
Film & supper
Morning of top class bowls Kiama Bowling Club is hosting the annual Phil Bushby Shield representative trial match between a selected Illawarra Zone squad and their Senior (over 60) counterparts. The open squad will feature a host of world class players and NSW representatives including Jeremy Henry, Aaron Teyes and Jesse Noronha. The Senior team boasts State Representatives Ted Clarke, Rick Malley, and Brian Harriott. Current Illawarra representatives Martin Wilson (Opens) and Mick Weir (60's) have been selected for this event. All players will be vying for participation at the State Inter-Zone Championships later this year. Details: Sunday 26 March, commencing at 9.30am.
RED HOT SUMMER CONCERT KIAMA SHOWGROUNDS th
Sunday 9 April 2017
ROAD CLOSURE NOTIFICATION BONG BONG STREET FROM SHOWGROUNDS TO ROUNDABOUT IN MANNING STREET 12 noon to 10.30pm If you require any further information please contact: Deb
Alexander on 0414 857 738
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The Bugle Editor: Cathy Law t 0412 415 101 Advertising: Steve Law t 0428 662 499
Or email us at emailthebugle@ gmail.com PO Box 304, Gerringong 2534 Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, but we are only human.
Review clear An independent review into the approval process for the large residential development on the headland north of Werri Beach has been completed. “The report shows that due process was followed and the applicant is fully entitled to proceed,” says Mayor Mark Honey. Recommendations to overcome technical issues identified in the report are being implemented. The full report is on www.kiama.nsw.gov.au A farm shed for the property as also been approved.
Gerringong DAs An application to modify an approved development, currently being built on Belinda St, including converting six two storey units into twelve single level units and other changes, has been refused. Further along, at 141 Belinda St, a DA for a three storey development with two shops and three serviced apartments on the ground floor and seven residential apartments above, with basement parking, has been approved.
Carpark still on An attempt to rescind a motion to persue the sale of the southern Akuna St carpark failed on the Mayor’s casting vote. A condition of the sale will be the provision of 100 public car spaces in any development on the site. The sale process will occur after the DA for the Akuna/ Mitre 10 site is approved.
Ward takes on new role The Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, has been appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Education, in addition to his role as Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast. “As a strong supporter of our Gonski education reforms, I look forward to working with Minister Stokes on initiatives that make a real difference for students and teachers in NSW,” he says. “As a proud product of public education, I want to use this role to ensure students in today’s classrooms have every opportunity to reach their full potential. “Having been a student with a disability, I look forward to being a strong advocate for students that are walking the same path I did and I want them to know that they can be all they want to be.”
Spilt zoning change Dinner with Kathy Despite strong lobbying from people opposed to further development in Jamberoo, the March Council meeting approved changes to the Kiama Local Environment Plan (KLEP) to allow owners of property with split zoning to exercise that potential. The issue was raised by the desire of the Downes family to sell off 1.7 hectares of their farm land. The land, on the edge of Jamberoo, is earmarked for residential development in the Kiama Urban Strategy. The KLEP does not allow this to happen due to minimum lot sizes for rural land. Other councils have already changed their LEPs to overcome this issue. “We are pleased that our planning proposal was approved,” says Nick Condell, a member of the Downes family. “Council found that no valid argument against
us was raised. We would like to thank the residents who have supported us. The submissions we received in support of our proposal reached 183, larger than those objecting, with 158. “The town, we believe, delivered a message to residents opposing developments, that aggressive, negative and exaggerated campaigns are out of line. Opponents should just voice their simple objection without resorting to a toolbox of questionable tactics. We hope the village returns to just respecting each other’s unadorned opinion. “The decision to sell the herd was the hardest thing my late father-in-law and the family has ever done. To imply it has anything to do with a family applying to rezone land identified by Council as developable is a very naive and insulting interpretation.”
New State levy on way with rates From 1 July 2017, councils are required to collect the new Fire and Emergency Services Levy (FESL) on behalf of the State Government. “Ratepayers will see the FESL included on their rates notices, beginning with the first instalment in the 2017/18 financial year, which is due on 31 August 2017,” says General Manager Michael Forsyth. “The FESL replaces the emergency services contributions collected by insurance companies as part of their premiums.”
The Levy charged by the State Government depends on whether a property is classified as residential, farmland, industrial, commercial or public benefit. Vacant land will incur a reduced levy. The money is to go towards the funding of fire NSW brigades, rural fire brigades and state emergency services. In preparation for this, the next rates instalment notices will include the FESL classification Council has placed on the land. “Ratepayers who disagree
with their property’s classification can request a review,” says Mr Forsyth. All the money collected through the FESL is forwarded to the NSW Government, with no allowance for providing for the cost of the exercise. It is hoped that insurance companies will reduce their premiums as a consequence of the change. Details: Further about the levy is available from the NSW Government on 1300 787 872 or at www.fireandemergency serviceslevy.nsw.gov.au
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proves a winner
Photo: Nicky Johnstone
In brief
In news that is sure to disappoint many, tickets to the special Kiama Readers Festival Dinner, with guest speaker Kathy Lette, are sold out. “As soon as the news got out through the Friends of Kiama Library network, the tickets sold like hot cakes,” says Kiama’s Head Librarian Michelle Hudson. “It’s a great endorsement of our decision to alterate the Festival proper with a dinner. We wanted to come up with a format that was sustainable for a small volunteer committee. “We are already planning the weekend festival for 2018.” While it is undoubtedly a coup for the committee to get Ms Lette, the Australian-born UK-based author and commentator is no stranger to our area. In a recent article in travel magazine Woman Going Places, she nominated Gerringong as her favourite destination in Australia. She and her sisters have continued their childhood tradition of holidaying there each summer. Unbeknownst to most of us, she revealed she has spent Christmas there for the last 26 years. The Dinner is being held at The Pavilion on Saturday 13 May.
Photo: Brian Scott
Jazz & Blues Festival attracts big crowd
The 30th annual Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival was luckier with the weather than the Red Hot Summer concert, which had to be postponed due to the extraordinary conditions. The local festival attracted big crowds to its free concerts held at more than 30 venues. Many people The Bugle spoke to had come to Kiama for the weekend, specifically for the music. Most were repeat Festival attendees.
Men’s work is noisy business Gerringong Men’s Shed has received a $10,000 grant from the State Government for soundproofing to cut back on the reverberation levels in their new shed, which is nearing completion. “This soundproofing project will be beneficial to those men with hearing problems and provides a much better ambience for members and also works towards our overall goal of improving men’s health,”says the Shed’s Secretary, Laurie Woollcott. The group also received funding for a defibrillator to be available on site.
FOKL’s April event Suzanne Leal is the Friends of Kiama Library’s speaker for April. The author of novels, The Teacher’s Secret and Border Street, Suzanne is a lawyer experienced in child protection, criminal law and refugee law, the senior judge for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and a former judge of ‘The Nib’ Waverley Library Award for Literature. She is a reviewer for The Australian and a regular interviewer at Sydney Writers’ Festival and other literary events. Her writing is driven by curiosity about hidden stories and secret lives. Details: Saturday 1 April, 2.30pm, in Kiama Family History Centre, Railway Parade (under the Library). Entry for members of the Friends is by donation of $5 and visitors $8, including afternoon tea.
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Competitions to celebrate Kiama Independence Day Details have emerged of competitions to celebration the successful anti-amalgamation campaign of 2016. The Kiama Independence Day Speech Contest 2017 ‘commemorates the elegant and eloquent way our community presented the case to the state delegate for our local government area to stay independent of amalgamation’. It is open to all secondary students who live or study in the Kiama Municipality, with eight finalists chosen to give their speeches at The Pavilion on Saturday 13 May. The winner will be awarded a trip for three to Vietnam. Students wishing to enter must submit a five minute speech on the topic ‘What does independence mean to me?’ by Friday 21 April. The Kiama Independence Day Photographic Competition 2017 is open to all ages and has the theme of ‘Why I love Kiama’. Entries close Friday 21 April.
Focus on tag’n’release in Bigfish Classic event While over 50 game fishing boats and 100 competitors will converge on Kiama for the annual Kiama Leagues Club Blowhole Bigfish Classic, it’s not much of a spectator sport as the action happens well offshore. Even the weigh-in is reserved for the heaviest. “Whilst the fish and sharks are large and quite spectacular, these days only a few are weighed in with emphasis on Tag and Release,” said Tournament DirecLachlan Rogers with his 123kg tor Mark Way. Marlin in 2016 “Still, the few big fish and sharks weighed are impres- past Blowhole Tournasive and well worth coming ments.” down to see. Details: The Classic is on “Plenty of Blue Marlin 1-2 April. Weigh-in at over 150kg are around at Kiama Harbour from 5pm the moment and Blues over Saturday and 2pm Sunday. 300kg have been hooked in
Composting en masse
Local apprentice recognised for exceptional performance
Residents of units, townhouses and villas have until 31 March to nominate for up to $1,000 to set up or expand on-site communal composting facilities. Successful applicants will be chosen on a number of criteria, including the suitability of the site, commitment of others in the complex and support from the property owner. To find out more, contact Rose Childe, Waste Management Project Assistant at Council on 4232 0444.
Kiama’s Matt Emerson has won the Rotary Club of Holroyd’s Warwick Tester Memorial Award for his exceptional performance during his electrical trade apprenticeship with Endeavour Energy. “The Warwick Tester Memorial Award is given Matt Emerson accepts the Award from Rotary District 9675 each year to an apprentice Governor Stephen Humphries assessed as outstanding based on competency, work ethic and values,” said the company’s General Manager Network Services Scott Ryan. “Matt won the award due to his exemplary performance amongst all Endeavour Energy apprentices in his year.”
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Call us on 4237 8280 for a free measure and quote or visit us in our showroom 7 Johnson Street Kiama Downs or online at www.bombo.com.au
Out & about
If you’d like to share your social event on this page, contact emailthebugle@gmail.com (preferably in advance). We’d love to share more weddings, births and other important milestones.
At the farewell to Kiama Hospital
Caitlin Cowley and her father Jeff Haigh were amongst the many born at Kiama Hospital who came along for one last look. Caitlin was one of the last born at the hospital.
Many more people than expected took the opportunity to visit Kiama Hospital for one last time. The people taking the tours through the original building, including Mayor Mark Honey, learnt much about the building and its occupants from the people in their groups. “I remember...” and “This was where…” were the constant refrains heard in the corridors. Hundreds visited the place where they had welcomed and farewelled loved ones. Some memories were hazy given the changes that have happened over the years, while others still recognized the rooms they had occupied or things that had happened in the workplace. The spirit of community was palpable.
The Hospital that grew with the community The Bonaira Street hospital opened in 1930. It replaced the Kiama Cottage Hospital which had served the Kiama, Shellharbour, Jamberoo and Gerringong districts for over forty years. In that time huge changes occurred in the treatment of patients, and hospital care went from being seen an act of charity to being regarded as a citizen’s right. Throughout the 1920s patient numbers steadily grew. Innovations in health care meant more could be done. Long gone were the days when operations took place on the staff dining table. It was now a hospital for the whole community. Whether by subscription or charity functions, the local community gave generously to the ongoing cost of its hospital. By 1928 things were getting critical. The hospital struggled to cope with the extra demand. Not only were the facilities antiquated, but nearby quarrying was threatening the hospital’s very existence. Committee member Reverend Watkinson said that
apart from the private ward and theatre provided by the Fuller family, the cottage hospital was “only a glorified woolshed”. In September 1928 the Hospital Committee threatened to resign in protest at six years of State Government procrastination and a no sign of a protracted boundary dispute between Kiama and Jamberoo councils over the Bonaira Street site being resolved. However, shortly after, the government finally signed a contract to build the new hospital, with half the money to come from the local community. It was officially opened on 5 July 1930. After a difficult birth, another chapter in the history of the Kiama district had begun. At the recent open day, stories from that chapter were freely shared. Patients, nurses, doctors, and other staff wandered through the hospital’s labyrinthine rooms and corridors, recounting many of the vivid memories contained within its walls. Mark Wilmott (full text on website)
Members of Kiama Hospital Auxiliary at the Open Day: (from left) Bev McOrrie, Barbara McClure (President), Barbara Bell (Patron), Julie Stokes (Secretary), June Powell, Ruth Boxwell, Marie Dobe, Patricia Gilbert and Doreen Delaney
Nurses take one last look Bev Turnbull (nee Cochrane), Pat Botfield (Parker), Pat White (Smillie), Robin Newton (Waters) and Darleen Callaghan (Gates)
Kiama Hospital brought these five women to Kiama in the Sixties as student nurses, and they’ve never left the area or lost touch
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with each other. “It was great to be able to look around the hospital together one last time,” says Pat Botfield.
“Every room brought memories flooding back. “Nurses were generalists then, so we worked in every part of the Hospital.” At Baroul House, they were able to fill in the detail that the nurses sat their exams in the main front room. They were disappointed they couldn’t look into the Nurses’ Home, which has been condemned. Apart from working at the Hospital, Pat had her five children there.
The Bugle Crossword
Use a local
ACROSS 1. Painting of the countryside 7. White parrot 10. Vital nutrient that we require in limited amounts 11. Heavy foot shoe 13. Light state of matter 15. Result of blocking sunlight 16. Past tense. Giving 10% of your income to the church. 17. Also Known As (1,1,1,) 19. Renewable energy using water 20. Fish swimming pool 21. Low tide 22. Name of UK Prime Minister (3,3) 26. To perform or carry out 27. Pure dairy product 28. Sick 29. Highest small town in NSW and Australia apart from ski resorts 31. Plumbing device found in kitchen, bathroom and laundry 33. Small river, brook. Watercourse. 34. Type of rock sometimes containing oil 36. Aircraft 37. Hand covers 38. Egyptian river 39. Type of embroidery 40. Grasshopper. Comes in plagues.
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DOWN 2. Point of your jaw 3. Cook a peeled egg in boiling water 4. Small domestic animal 5. Lowest load bearing part of a building, sometimes below ground 6. Name of a property that generates renewable energy by air movement (4,4)
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Painting 8. Iron carbon alloy with a carbon content of greater than 2% 12. Preposition 14. Mankind’s opposable digit 15. Cooking eggs with milk 18. Conic solid with polygonal base (Geometry) 23. Panels exposed to the sun that generate electricity 24. Negotiated arrangement between parties 25. Interior window covering 30. Sharp tool used in sew-
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Last issue’s solution
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ing 31. Very poisonous Queensland snake 32. Queen Elizabeth II lives in one 33. Musical instrument with a bow 34. Something sat on, usually with three or four legs
35. Remove the outer covering or rind of a fruit or vegetable
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Page 7 ♦ The Bugle 25 March 2017
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Postcard home Last year was the first in 20 years at Kiama when I felt the cold. Maybe that was what prompted this year’s reality check. In earlier years, I enjoyed ski touring and camping in the snow. I knew that correctly chosen and layered clothing made all the difference in extreme coldness. So when I saw an ad for heavily discounted winter tickets to China, an old interest in the Harbin Ice Festival came back to mind. Peter and I left Kiama on 15 February, unsure of how -11⁰C in the daytime was going to feel and how quickly the temperature would drop towards -22⁰C in the late afternoon. We hoped that we had packed the right range of clothing. Upon our late afternoon arrival at Harbin airport, the first thing that struck me was the large number of ‘locker rooms’ small change rooms to assist the layering and un-layering of clothing. Soon we were walking along Harbin’s pedestrian street, where we ate Russian sausages, and admired the cobbled streets and European architecture.
If you’d like to share your travel story, send your postcard home (most do it when they are back) to emailthebugle@gmail.com
Mayoral Column Each edition, Mayor Mark Honey uses this column as a way of communicating directly with residents
Feeling cold, we quickly planned our next day’s attire. After that, we didn’t really get cold, except when having to un-glove to take photos at night. Two of the Festival’s main attractions, Zhaolin Park in the town centre and the Harbin Ice and Snow World on Sun Island are at their best by night when lit by multiple LED lights. About 180,000 cubic metres of ice cut from the Songhua River and 150,000 cubic metres of shovelled snow become
transformed into snow and ice sculptures and all of the buildings of festival venues. Sculptors travel from all over the world to compete here annually. The Ice and Snow World felt like a cross between Jamberoo Action Park and Sculpture by the Sea. We chose to walk, climb and look at the sculptures rather than hurtle ourselves down the extensive ice slides although they were very popular with young people. Our few days in Harbin
were very different to anything we had ever experienced before. Buildings such as the St Sophia Cathedral and the New Synagogue exposed the Russian and Jewish history, whilst the Unit 731 museum showed aspects of Japanese military activity. As we farewelled our brief burst of Chinese winter, I wondered when I would next wear those four thermal layers of clothing top and bottom. Kathy Rice, Kiama Downs
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At the recent opening of the Jazz and Blues Festival at the Old Fire Station there was an exhibition of works celebrating the connection between music and art. I may not have an artistic bone in my body, but I was struck by the talent of the artists who are so passionate about their work. The Kiama Cultural Arts Network (KCAN) was established in 2009 with the support of Kiama Council to build and maintain a cultural arts community in our municipality. Often our artists have national, if not international reputations, yet are little know in their own communities.
Establishing a strong local recognition of the importance of the arts and local artists in Kiama, in the same vein as tourism and sport, was therefore a broad goal for KCAN. Nearly a decade on, I don’t think anyone would question the contribution the arts make to our community in regards to our economy in terms of tourism, retailing and cultural events, as well as social diversity and public debate. Nonetheless, in the spirit of continuous improvement, KCAN is conducting an online survey to gather feedback from local artists about all aspects of its operations (blog, Facebook page, artist gatherings and conferences). I encourage those involved in the arts scene (or just a passionate supporter of local artists), to take time to complete the survey. You can access the survey at this web address: survey.zohopublic.com/zs/ YUihFO